Rituals for Everyday Magic

On the best of days, just about everything can seem like pure magic. The Sun shines, events seem to fall into place as though inspired directly by the 8 of Wands speeding true through the clear air, while the stars above align in harmony.

Ah, if only all days could be that way.

There are also days when shadows seem to overtake the skies, problems multiply, the Moon is moody, and dreariness easily sets in without a solid plan of action.

Don’t get me wrong. Having made my home for the past two and a half decades in the Pacific Northwest, I am well accustomed to skies of grey and foggy forests. And while these days can also comfort and soothe, the right components may be necessary to smooth out the rough edges.

A little DIY magic can be just the right medicine…on any day.

In many ways a ritual for everyday magic can easily translate into a recipe for taking really good care of oneself. Prioritizing comfort, connection, and creativity can do wonders for the psyche.

Here are some of my favorite ways to spark a bit of magic into my days when the Nothing is threatening to swallow everything.

• Burning Candles. The tiny, tamed flames have a mesmerizing and energizing effect. Be sure to always burn safely.
• Smoke Cleansing to clear the air and disperse stagnant energy.
• Florida Water spritzed in a counter-clockwise circle over the head is sure to purify.
• Tea Party, guests optional.
• Pulling a Tarot Card for contemplation or poetic interpretation.
• Writing morning pages as suggested by Julia Cameron: three pages upon waking.
• Creative movement: Dance, Yoga, Tai Chi, Capoeira, Jazzercise, Aerial Arts, you get it.
• Hydrating: Ensure you are drinking enough water, and maybe take a magical bath. As Sylvia Plath wrote in The Bell Jar, “There must be quite a few things a hot bath won’t cure, but I don’t know many of them.”
• Music. Listen to it, create it, sing, hum. Those vibes are powerful.
• Making Art: paint, draw, make a collage or a dress or a film. Express something that needs to come out.
• Reading: Be inspired by a novel that sweeps you to another world, or study a nerdy nonfiction volume.
• Looking at and appreciating others’ art: This can be done right at home and can prove extensively helpful. Alternatively, visit a museum.
• Artist Dates: Another product of Julia Cameron’s brilliance (From the Artist’s Way). Go to a thrift store, a fabric shop, a music venue, somewhere that inspires you.
• Hygge: The art of comfort and connection. A word and concept originating from my homeland of Scandinavia, where getting through harsh winters is a necessity.
• Plan a Harmonious Gathering as indicated by the Three of Cups.
• Use Herbal Remedies for profound healing.
• Follow Lunar Cycles and get in tune with the seasons. You might find nature’s changing tides to be food for the soul, your creativity, and your innate magic.

Included in this post is a PDF of a DIY home magic wheel that you can reference any time.